St. Ann's centennial: 100 years of faith, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Belcourt, North Dakota, 1885-1985

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library
• Subjects: Canada; Indian; Pratt; McLeod; Minot; San Jose; Tortue; Mouse River; Metis
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/27966

Grandma Mary Rose "Ginnee" McGillis, 106, with 6th generation great-great-grandson, Christopher Parisien, born 1979. Picture taken when she was 100 years old. sometimes Sioux. Rose Mary recalls living in Canada and on a track of land North of St. John, North Dakota, as well as other locations when a child. She remembers vividly the way life was during that period of time. The land she says was made for all people and is not to be fenced off for ones own use -To the Metis - to share and share alike was a value well respected. Contrary to what historians say about the naming of the Turtle Mountains, Mary Rose says the Michifs were the first to call these hills the Turtle Mountains. As a child she recalls the stories and Turtle hunting trips the Metis made following the Mouse River thru its course into the Missouri. There was an abundance of turtles that was unbelievable. Turtles two and three feet in diameter - She recalls how they were killed for food, how the turtle eggs were found in mud holes along the river banks - how the meat and eggs were dried out for future use - she says she had always known in this part of the country to be called Les Montagnes Tortue (Mountains of the Turtles) by the Michif because of their abundance. She speaks passionately about the treaty and how it affected the Michifs down thru the years. How it was so long a time to wait. With tears in her eyes, she mentioned how her family - parents, relatives, friends - waited and waited for something that never came. A something most people felt would somehow lift the burden of lies. When asked about her age, she instantly replied "Very Young." As we left the room at the long term care in Rolla, where she is residing, the hall was echoing with strains of a song she had sung for us (A,B,C,D,) sung backwards. Louis and Winnefrid McLeod, 1954. Alvin and Ella (LaFloe) McLeod Family. Front: Elizabeth, Alvin, Peter, Ella, Greg. Back: Robert, Alvin, Matthew. ALVIN MCLEOD — ELLA LAFLOE Alvin L. McLeod son of Louis McLeod and Win- nifred Pratt McLeod married Ella LaFloe, daughter of Robert LaFloe and Delia Davis LaFloe on November 11, 1954 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Belcourt. Before moving to the United States Alvin served with the Royal Canadian 101 Airborne as a Paratrooper and was discharged June, 1954. He then became a US citizen. Soon after their marriage they relocated to San Jose, California. Alvin worked for U.S. Steel and later worked under the Army Ordinance. Alvin and Ella lived in California until 1957. After settling back in North Dakota, Alvin worked in various places. He worked on construction of the Minot Air Force Base and Missile Sites. He then found employment closer to home with Westland Oil Co., which is now Behm's Propane of Rolla, North Dakota. He was employed there for 13 years. 464 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.